Letter: We will miss Bob Greenwell

Wednesday

Jan 16, 2013 at 9:08 PMJan 16, 2013 at 9:10 PM

The Greenwell brothers, Bob and Buster, and the Greenwell Packing Plant touched the lives of virtually everyone living in or around Tonganoxie. Bob, in particular, left a lasting impression on me and my family.

Ed O'BrienLeavenworth County

To the editor:The Greenwell brothers, Bob and Buster, and the Greenwell Packing Plant touched the lives of virtually everyone living in or around Tonganoxie. Bob, in particular, left a lasting impression on me and my family.

One act of kindness afforded me by Bob is especially remembered. I don't remember all the details but I remember how Bob responded to my request for help. I was working for the Santa Fe Railroad and my wife, Connie, was a stay-at-home mom. We were raising 11 children. It must have been 20 years ago. We were living from paycheck to paycheck. When you work for the railroad paychecks came at two-week intervals. We had no money in savings. No emergency fund. And then we had an emergency. I don't even remember what it was but we needed cash and we needed it quickly. I couldn't wait for payday and although I had some livestock, a market ready steer in particular, I couldn't wait for the livestock auction which was days away.

I called Greenwell's. I told Bob about our situation. We need money and we needed it today. I offered my market ready steer to Bob for the amount of cash that we needed. Bob said that the steer was worth more than what I was asking and I replied, yes, I know it is Bob but we need the cash now. Can you help us? Bob said yes. Bring the steer in and I'll have the money for you. We were greatly relieved, indebted and extremely thankful for Bob's help but that isn't the end of the story.

It must have been a week or two later that Bob and I crossed paths again. He came up to me and handed me $100. in cash. He reminded me that the steer was worth more than what I was asking. I knew it was and I told Bob that I was just grateful for his help. He insisted that I keep the money. "You need it more than I do." That memory has been with me these many years. It told me something about Bob. He was a man of great character. A man who cared about others. A man who was respected by everyone who knew him. Thank you Lord for giving us Bob Greenwell. His memory will be with us forever.

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